F.R. BOARD MAY 'CRACK DOWN'
Drastic Action Planned if New Offer for Arbitration is
Refused

President Roosevelt's National Longshoremen's Board is ready to take
drastic action should its latest offer of arbitration in the maritime strike be
refused. The board asked that both employers and strikers submit to
arbitration.

"If this proposal is refused," said Assistant Secy. of Labor Edward F.
McGrady, board member, "the board will immediately start to hold public
hearings and conduct elections to determine who is to represent the men,
possibly along the entire Pacific coast.

"Regardless of what any party may do, we propose to carry on under the
mandate given us by the President of the United States."

Forced into the background temporarily by the opening of the port, the
board awaited replies from both sides in the maritime strike to its
arbitration proposal.

The latest appeal for arbitration, issued last night by the President's board,
came after a message from Washington had struck a heavy blow to peace
hopes.

Supplementing its appeal, the board issued another statement today pointed
out it was the official agency of the federal government to deal with the
strike, that it had the full confidence of Secy. of Labor Frances Perkins, and
that its arbitration appeal should be recognized and responded to by all
parties.

The board had asked Secy. Perkins whether it had the right to compel
ship owners to negotiate strike grievances jointly instead of individually.
The Department of Labor got a ruling from U.S. Atty. Gen. Homer S.
Cummings that the board had no such power.

The board had hoped to persuade striking seamen and other ship crafts to
go back to work, while it took up their grievances with representatives of all
ship lines.

H.W. Hutton, attorney for the International Seamen's Union, had
contended that a ruling of the Supreme Court make it imperative that the
lines deal jointly with the strikers.

In its new appeal the board pointed out that it could act as voluntary
arbitrator if both parties requested such action, and asked that both strikers
and employers reply to the appeal before Thursday night.

There were reports that the employers had indicated their willingness to
ask for arbitration, but officials of the board said they had not yet received
notification from either side.

Harry Bridges, as head of the San Francisco I.L.A. strike committee, said
he did not believe the longshoremen would accept any plan to have all their
grievances submitted to arbitration, because, under the provisions of the
NRA [National Recovery Act], they might lose their fight for the closed
shop, their chief aim. He said no plans had been made to take a vote on the
national board's proposal.

Representatives of all other striking maritime unions were to meet during
the day and draft an answer to the board.

"The board moved slowly at first, acting in the role of conciliator," said
Edward F. McGrady, assistant labor secretary and member of the board.
"Then when it found that conciliation was fruitless it stepped into its
arbitration role.

"Strike leaders were asked twice to submit the June 16 agreement to a new
vote by all members of the International Longshoremen. Both times they
rejected the proposal. Now we hope that a vote will be taken on a request
for arbitration and that we will have a favorable answer by Thursday, so
that actual arbitration can be started by Friday morning."
San Francisco News
July 3, 1934